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MASTERING dBASE IV WITH EASE QUICK REFERENCE MANUAL THE ULTIMATE TRAINING TUTORIAL FROM: R&D In less than 2 hours, you will have learned to create, edit, and print a sophisticated document with dBASE IV. You will be able to create a data entry form, report, and even your own application program. R&D's training will even teach you how to use dBASE IV's powerful command mode. You will be well on your way to mastering the skills needed to use dBASE IV with confidence in your professional career. GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR R&D TRAINING PROGRAM Getting Prepared Follow the instructions that came with your computer to start up your system. Place your R&D training program diskette in drive A: Display the C:> prompt on your screen. If you are using drive B: Place your R&D training program diskette in drive B: Display the C:> prompt on your screen. Begin Type C:> R&D Don't worry about uppercase or lower case letters. Press the ENTER key. In a few moments, a question will appear on your screen asking you whether or not you have a color monitor. After you answer the question with a Y or N you will begin your training. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Displays the value of one or more ?/?? expressions. Sends output directly to the printer. ??? Displays or accepts information in a specified @@ format at a given set of screen coordinates. @CLEARS A PORT = Clears a portion of the screen or of @@...CLEAR the active window. @...CLEARALLOW = Allows you to change the colors of a @@...FILL specific rectangular region on your screen or active window. @...FILLDRAWS = Draws a box on the screen or active @@...TO window with single lines, double lines, or specified characters. @...TOCREATES = Creates a character memory variable ACCEPT for storage of keyboard entries. Activates an existing bar menus and displays it for use. ACTIVATE MENU Activates a previously defined pop-up for use. ACTIVATE POPUP Restores access to the entire CRT screen. ACTIVATE SCREEN Activates and displays a defined window from memory and ACTIVATE WINDOW directs all output to that window. Allows you to add new records to the end of the active APPEND database file. Copies records from an existing file to the end of the APPEND FROM active database file. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Adds record to a database file from information in an array. APPEND FROM ARRAY Imports a file into a named memo field. APPEND MEMO Gives you access to dBASE IV's Control Center. ASSIST Computes the arithmetic mean of numeric expressions. AVERAGE Starts a transaction, records changes made to a file BEGIN/END and provides the option to rollback the changes. Also TRANSACTION ends the transaction an commits the changes. Full screen, menu assisted mode for editing and BROWSE appending records in a database file. Computes financial and statistical functions with your CALCULATE data. Allows you to call binary file program modules loaded in CALL memory. Stops the execution of a command file, closes all open CANCEL files and returns to the dot prompt. Full-screen command to display or change the contents CHANGE of a record in the active database file. Erases the screen and repositions the cursor to the lower CLEAR left-hand corner of the screen. Used to close alternate, database, format, index and CLOSE procedure files. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Reads a file containing dBASE IV source code, and COMPILE creates an executable object code file. Searches for the next record in the active database CONTINUE file that meets the condition specified by the most recent LOCATE command. Adds a field to a database file's structure which holds CONVERT information required for multi-user lock detection. Duplicates all or part of an active database file, COPY creating a new file. Creates a duplicate of any file. COPY FILE Converts a list of index (.ndx) files into file tags COPY INDEXES in a single .mdx (multiple index) file. Copies the information from a single memo field to COPY MEMO another file. Copies the structure of the active database file to COPY STRUCTURE a new file, but does not copy any records. Creates a new database file whose records contain COPY STRUCTURE the structure of the current file. EXTENDED Converts multiple index (.mdx) file tags into index COPY TAG (.ndx) files. Fills an existing array with the contents of one or COPY TO ARRAY more records from the active database file. Tallies the number of records in the active database COUNT file that match specified conditions. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Allows access to the database file design screen. CREATE or MODIFY STRUCTURE Forms a new database file from the structure created with CREATE FROM the COPY STRUCTURE EXTENDED command. Builds a view (.vue) file that is compatible with CREATE VIEW FROM dBASE III PLUS. ENVIRONMENT Allows access to the dBASE IV Applications Generator. CREATE/MODIFY APPLICATION Allows access to the dBASE IV label designer. CREATE/MODIFY LABEL Allows access to the query design screen. CREATE/MODIFY QUERY/VIEW Allows access to the report designer. CREATE/MODIFY REPORT Allows access to the forms design screen. CREATE/MODIFY SCREEN Deactivates the active bar menu and erases it from DEACTIVATE MENU the screen, while leaving it in memory. Erases the active popup menu from the screen while DEACTIVATE POPUP leaving it intact in memory. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Deactivates specified windows and removes them from the DEACTIVATE WINDOW screen, without releasing them from memory. Allows access to the dBASE IV program debugger. DEBUG Creates one- or two-dimensional arrays of memory variables. DECLARE Defines a single option in a popup menu. DEFINE BAR Defines a box to be printed around lines of text. DEFINE BOX Assigns a name to a bar menu and associates an DEFINE MENU optional message with the menu name. Defines a single pad in a bar menu. DEFINE PAD Defines a pop-up window's name, location, border, DEFINE POPUP prompts, and message line. Defines windows, borders and screen colors for windows. DEFINE WINDOW Marks records in the active database file for deletion. DELETE Deletes the indicated tags from multiple index (.mdx) DELETE TAG files and closes index (.ndx) files. Displays directory information similar to that displayed DIR by the DOS DIR command. Similar to the list commands, only displays one screen of DISPLAY information at a time. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Executes a dBASE command file or procedure. DO Structured programming command that selects only one DO CASE course of action from a set of alternatives. Structured programming command that allows command DO WHILE statements between it and its associated ENDDO to be repeated as long as the specified condition is true. Full-screen command to display or change the contents EDIT of a record in the active database file. Causes the printer to advance to the top of the next page. EJECT Either advances the streaming output to the defined EJECT PAGE ON PAGE handler on the current page, or to the beginning of the next page. Removes a file from the disk directory. ERASE Copies the open database file to a file format usable by EXPORT PFS:FILE, dBASE II, Framework II, or RapidFile. Searches and indexed database file for the first record FIND with an index key the matches the specified character string or number. Identifies a user-defined function within a procedure. FUNCTION Positions the record pointer to a specified record in GO/GOTO the active database file. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Menu-driven command that provides information about HELP dBASE IV. Structured programming command that enables conditional IF processing of commands. Creates dBASE IV files from PFS:FILE forms, dBASE II IMPORT database files, Framework II database and spreadsheet frames, RapidFile data files and Lotus .WK1 spreadsheets. Creates and index in which record from a database file are INDEX ordered. Used in dBASE programs to prompt a user to enter an INPUT expression from the keyboard. Data entry is terminated by using the ENTER key. Adds a single new record to the database file at the INSERT current record location. Creates a new database file by merging specified JOIN records and fields from two open database files. Uses a specified label format file designed with LABEL FORM MODIFY LABEL to print, display or write labels to a file on disk. Used to view the contents of a database file in an LIST/DISPLAY unformatted columnar list. Displays directory information similar to that LIST/DISPLAY FILES displayed by the DOS DIR command. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Outputs a list of commands that have been executed and LIST/DISPLAY HISTORY are stored in the history buffer. Provides information on how dBASE IV is using the LIST/DISPLAY MEMORY computer's memory. Provides information about the current dBASE IV session. LIST/DISPLAY STATUS Displays the field definitions of the specified database LIST/DISPLAY file. STRUCTURE Identifies the workstations currently logged in to LIST/DISPLAY USERS dBASE IV in a networking environment. Allows the user to load binary files into memory. LOAD Searches the active database file for a record that LOCATE matches a specified condition. Logs out the current user and sets up a new log-in screen. LOGOUT dBASE IV full-screen text editor. MODIFY COMMAND/FILE See CREATE commands. MODIFY Moves a window to a new location on the screen. MOVE WINDOW Indicators for comment lines in a program (.prg) file. NOTE/*/&& Call the execution of a program if an error occurs, the ON ERROR/ESCAPE/KEY ESC key is pressed, or the <<key label name>> key is pressed. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Associates a pop-up menu with a pad of a given bar menu. ON PAD Triggers and action when the streaming output reaches a ON PAGE particular line on the current page during a ?/?? or EJECT PAGE command. Used for error trapping and recovery during full-screen ON READERROR operations. Associates an action with a bar menu pad. ON SELECTION PAD Specifies the command or procedure that executes when a ON SELECTION POPUP pop-up menu selection is made. Removes records that are marked for deletion from the PACK active database file. Assigns local variable names to data items passed from a PARAMETERS calling program. Used to execute macros from the current macro library. PLAY MACRO Structured programming commands that control a printjob. PRINTJOB/ENDPRINTJOB Allows the user to create local memory variables in a PRIVATE lower-level program with the same names as memory variables that were created in a calling program. Identifies the beginning of a subroutine. PROCEDURE COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Creates and maintains security on a dBASE IV system. PROTECT Designates specified memory variables and array elements PUBLIC that you can use and alter in any dBASE program or subprogram. Closes all open files, terminates the dBASE IV session, QUIT and returns control to the operating system. Activates all @...GET's issued since the late CLEAR, READ CLEAR ALL, CLEAR GETS, or READ command. Reinstate records that are marked for deletion in the RECALL active database file. Rebuilds all active index (.ndx) and multiple index REINDEX (.mdx) files in the current working area. Deletes memory variables, opening memory space for other RELEASE use. Changes the name of a file. RENAME Changes the contents of specified fields in the active REPLACE database file. Prints information from the active database using a report REPORT FORM form created by CREATE/MODIFY REPORT. Removes the integrity tag from a file. RESET Retrieves and activates memory variables and arrays RESTORE from a memory file. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Restores macros that were saved to the current macro RESTORE MACROS library. Restores window definitions from a disk file to memory. RESTORE WINDOW Works in conjunction with SUSPEND, it causes a RESUME SUSPENDed program to continue executing. Re-executes a command sequence that caused an error. RETRY Restores control to calling programs, the dot prompt RETURN or the Control Center. Restores the database and index files to the state ROLLBACK they were in before the current transaction. Executes a specified DOS command, or any program RUN/! which can be executed by DOS, from within dBASE IV. Stores all or part of the current set of memory SAVE variables and array elements to a disk file. Saves the currently defined macros from memory to a SAVE MACROS disk file. Saves window definitions to a disk file. SAVE WINDOW Simplified alternative to the DO WHILE command. SCAN Searches for the first record in an indexed database file SEEK with a key that matches a specified expression. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Used to choose a work area in which to open a database SELECT file. Displays a bar menu without activating it. SHOW MENU Displays a pop-up menu without activating it. SHOW POPUP Moves the record pointer forward or backward in a SKIP database file. Creates a new database file in which the records of SORT the active database file are positioned in the ASCII order of the specified key fields. Initializes one or more memory variables after creating STORE them. Totals numeric expressions to memory variables or arrays. SUM Debugging command to interrupt a running program. SUSPEND Outputs blocks of text to the screen or printer. TEXT Sums the numeric fields of the active database file TOTAL and creates a second database file to hold the results. Displays the contents of an ASCII text file. TYPE Release record and file locks so that other users can UNLOCK modify data. Uses data from another database file to replace fields UPDATE in the current database file. COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Opens an existing database file, and may open .mdx USE and .ndx index files. Causes all dBASE IV processing to pause until any key is WAIT pressed. Removes all records from the active database file. ZAP SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Records all output other than that of full-screen SET ALTERNATE commands to a text file. Saves each record to the disk after a single I/O operation. SET AUTOSAVE Turns the bell off or on, and sets its frequency and SET BELL duration. Changes the default blocksize of memo fields and SET BLOCKSIZE multiple (.mdx) files. Changes the default border of menus, windows, SET BORDER and @ commands from a single-line box to several other user defined border characters. Updates all fields, or only specified fields, SET CARRY depending on the syntax used. Used to create or open a catalog file. SET CATALOG Allows the input and display of century prefixes in SET CENTURY the year portion of dates. Controls the display and screen position of the SET CLOCK system clock. Allows the selection of colors and display attributes SET COLOR for use on color and monochrome monitors. Determines cursor movement at the end of an array field. SET CONFIRM Turns the screen display on and off from within a program. SET CONSOLE Changes the symbol used for currency. SET CURRENCY SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Changes the position of the currency symbol from the SET CURRENCY left of the currency amount to the right of the currency LEFT/RIGHT amount. Determines the format for date displays. SET DATE Tool for locating errors in a program. SET DEBUG Determines the number of decimal places dBASE IV SET DECIMALS displays for the results of numeric functions and calculations. Allows the user to select the drive where all operations SET DEFAULT take place and all files are stored. Determines whether records that are marked for deletion SET DELETED are included or ignored by other dBASE IV commands. Determines how field widths are indicated in the SET DELIMITERS full-screen mode. Prevents transfers to design mode from the dot prompt or SET DESIGN from the Control Center. Activates a checking program in dBASE IV which compares SET DEVELOPMENT thecreation dates of the compiled object (.obj) file with its program source (.prg) file. Determines whether @...Say commands are routed to the SET DEVICE screen, printer, or a file. SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Selects between a monochrome and a color monitor, SET DISPLAY and determines the number of lines displayed. Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET DOHISTORY dBASE III PLUS. Displays command lines from dBASE IV programs on the SET ECHO screen and/or printer as they are executed. Establishes whether a newly created database file is SET ENCRYPTION encrypted if PROTECT is used. Lets you halt the processing of a dBASE IV program by SET ESCAPE pressing the ESC key. Determines whether a comparison between two character SET EXACT strings requires the strings to be the same length. Allows a user to open a database file on a multi-user SET EXCLUSIVE system for exclusive use. Defines a list of fields that may be accessed by one SET FIELDS or more files. Allows display of only those records of a database SET FILTER that meet a specified condition. Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET FIXED dBASE III PLUS. Allows a form to be used with the READ, EDIT, SET FORMAT APPEND, INSERT, CHANGE, or BROWSE commands. SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Makes dBASE III PLUS programs that contain the SET FULLPATH functions MDX(), NDX(), and DBF() dBASE IV compatible by suppressing the display of the full pathname. Used to program a function key. SET FUNCTION Determines whether or not column titles are shown SET HEADING above each field for LIST, DISPLAY SUM and AVERAGE. Determines whether a pop-up window with dBASE IV SET HELP Help options appears, when a command is incorrectly entered at the dot prompt. Stores executed commands in a history buffer. SET HISTORY Changes the time display to either a 12-hour or SET HOURS 24-hour clock. Opens the specified index files, both index (.ndx) SET INDEX and multiple index (.mdx). Enables the display of prompts. SET INSTRUCT Determines whether the enhanced screen attribute is SET INTENSITY used for full-screen operations. Determines whether a lock is applied to records in SET LOCK multi-user systems. Adjusts the printer offset for the left margin for all SET MARGIN printed output. Does not affect video display. SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Changes the delimiter character used to separate the SET MARK month, day and year in the date display. Adjusts the width of memo field output. SET MEMOWIDTH Used for dBASE III PLUS only. SET MENU Displays a user-defined character string on the SET MESSAGE bottom line of the screen is SET STATUS is on. Positions the database file to the record immediately SET NEAR following the potential location of the sought-after key in that file. Defines the update interval of the record counter for SET ODOMETER commands that display a record count. Sets up any open index file or tag as the master index. SET ORDER Specifies the directory search route that dBASE IV SET PATH follows to find files that are not included in the current directory. Controls the display of the SQL SELECT command, and SET PAUSE stops the display of data after each command. Changes the character used for the decimal point. SET POINT Determines the number of digits that dBASE IV uses SET PRECISION internally in all math operations the use type N numbers. SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Directs all output not formatted with the @...Say SET PRINTER command to the printer or to a file. Opens a named procedure file. SET PROCEDURE Specifies the time interval between file checks on a SET REFRESH network. Links two open database files according to a key SET RELATION expression that is common to both files. Sets the number of times dBASE IV tries a network file or SET REPROCESS record lock command before producing an error message. Prevents the unintentional overwriting of an existing file. SET SAFETY If SET SCOREBOARD is on and SET STATUS is off, SET SCOREBOARD display toggles for Num, Ins, Del and Caps on line 0 of the screen. SET COMMANDS FUNCTION KEYSTROKE Changes the symbol used for the numeric separator from SET SEPARATOR the comma to a specified character. Allow access to all records in linked files that match a SET SKIP particular key. Lets the ? and ?? commands print a space between the SET SPACE printed expressions. Activates the interactive SQL mode in dBASE IV. SET SQL Determines whether the status bar is displayed at the SET STATUS bottom of the screen. Halts the execution of a program after each instruction. SET STEP Determines whether the response to certain dBASE IV SET TALK commands is displayed. Turns the catalog file title prompt on and off. SET TITLE Activates the debugger when a error occurs in a SET TRAP program or ESC is pressed. Specifies the size of the type-ahead buffer. SET TYPEAHEAD Determines whether all records with the same key value SET UNIQUE are included in the index (.ndx) or the multiple index (.mdx) file. Performs a query created in the Control Center or from SET VIEW the dot prompt. Sets a default window that allows you to edit a memo SET WINDOW field within this default window.